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US3897692A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Centrifugal propulsion drive and steering mechanism

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-13
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1992-12-13
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Abstract

Abstract A centrifugal propulsion drive and steering mechanism has been provided that is operable through gyratory action of a power driven base plate structure from which extend pivot arms having fly weights thereon, a pulley-like device radially and angularly adjustably offset from a central power drive shaft that the base plate with a chain and spring assembly connected to and between the flyweight pivot arms to bias the arms against spring stops and toward the direction of travel of the mechanism so that as a result of the rotation of the base plate the flyweights and gyratory are relaxed and at this time reversely operating balance power thrust weights separating to provide a forward thrust or impulse to the mechanism, one of these thrust weights being rigidly carried by the base plate and the other thrust weight rotatively carried on the base plate drive shaft to work in unison with the rigid base plate weight and driven by a reverse gear and sprocket mechanism radially offset therefrom and driven by a gear on the base plate drive shaft. Such an impulse at the time of the relaxing of the flyweights provides the power to propel the mechanism and its vehicle to which it is attached in a direct direction. The base plate structure drive shaft is driven by a rotatable source such as an electric motor, gas engine or turbine. This mechanism has use on seacraft to maneuver the same into landing docks as well as to propel it through the water, and also for use on land vehicles to propel the same and in such a manner that wheel braking may be dispensed with. A steering feature is inherent in this mechanism so that the seacraft or vehicle can be steered by it while the power is being supplied as well as propelled by it.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur N Lehberger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 21:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B63; B63H; B63H19/00; F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/10; F03G7/125; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18528; Y10T74/18536

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 487 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechanism comprising a power-rotated drive shaft, a base plate structure centrally connected to the drive shaft to be rotated thereby, gyratory power work arms respectively pivotally connected at their inner ends to the rotatable base plate structure on the respective opposite sides of the drive shaft evenly radiallyspaced therefrom and along a diameter taken through the shaft axis, flyweights with arms respectively pivotally connected to the outer free ends of the respective flyweights power arms and extending in a restrictive manner from the leading edges thereof, a thrust-producing weight arm fixedly carried upon the base plate to be rotated therewith and extending in radially alignment with the shaft axis and outwardly from the base plate, said thrust weight arm extending at an angle generally normal to the diameter alignment of the pivotally connected inner ends of the gyratory power work arms with the base plate, a corresponding reversely driven thrust-producing weight arm rotatably connected to the power-rotated drive shaft to be turned thereabout independently of the base plate, said driven thrust-producing weight arm extending radially outwardly from the drive shaft to the same extent that the fixed thrust weight extends so that their weights will superimpose one another at times of rotation of and in the direction of movement of the mechanism, a counter shaft geared to the power-rotated drive shaft for revese rotation thereof and to the corresponding of the reversely driven thrust producing weight arm to reversely drive the same in union with and in opposition to the base plate fixed thrust-producing weight arm, said thrust producing weight arms superimposing on the line of directed movement of the mechanism both forwardly and rearwardly thereof and their thrust strokes or impulses being made with their rearward Movement, power arm stops carried upon the base plate structure respectively to allow the respective gyratory power arms to be normally urged in a position thereon out of alignment with the diameter through the drive shaft axis and the pivots of the power arms and in the direction of movement of the mechanism, a pulley lever-like device offset from the drive shaft and free of the base plate and including an extensible cable connected between the gyratory power arms to normally urge them against the forwardly disposed spring biased stops periodically to lessen the effective length of the flyweight gyratory work arms and thereby relax the flyweight gyratory work arms at the time the reverselyoperated thrust weight arms are making their effective thrust stroke rearward movements to cause the direction movement of the mechanism, said pulley lever-like device permitting a shortening of its extensible cable and the releasing of the gyratory power work arms and flyweights for maximum power effect with returning of the thrust-producing weights preparatory to their forward superimposed positions for further rearward thrust strokes, whereby power will be supplied to cause directional movement of the mechanism and a vehicle attached thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 487 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechanism comprising a power-rotated drive shaft, a base plate structure centrally connected to the drive shaft to be rotated thereby, gyratory power work arms respectively pivotally connected at their inner ends to the rotatable base plate structure on the respective opposite sides of the drive shaft evenly radiallyspaced therefrom and along a diameter taken through the shaft axis, flyweights with arms respectively pivotally connected to the outer free ends of the respective flyweights power arms and extending in a restrictive manner from the leading edges thereof, a thrust-producing weight arm fixedly carried upon the base plate to be rotated therewith and extending in radially alignment with the shaft axis and outwardly from the base plate, said thrust weight arm extending at an angle generally normal to the diameter alignment of the pivotally connected inner ends of the gyratory power work arms with the base plate, a corresponding reversely driven thrust-producing weight arm rotatably connected to the power-rotated drive shaft to be turned thereabout independently of the base plate, said driven thrust-producing weight arm extending radially outwardly from the drive shaft to the same extent that the fixed thrust weight extends so that their weights will superimpose one another at times of rotation of and in the direction of movement of the mechanism, a counter shaft geared to the power-rotated drive shaft for revese rotation thereof and to the corresponding of the reversely driven thrust producing weight arm to reversely drive the same in union with and in opposition to the base plate fixed thrust-producing weight arm, said thrust producing weight arms superimposing on the line of directed movement of the mechanism both forwardly and rearwardly thereof and their thrust strokes or impulses being made with their rearward Movement, power arm stops carried upon the base plate structure respectively to allow the respective gyratory power arms to be normally urged in a position thereon out of alignment with the diameter through the drive shaft axis and the pivots of the power arms and in the direction of movement of the mechanism, a pulley lever-like device offset from the drive shaft and free of the base plate and including an extensible cable connected between the gyratory power arms to normally urge them against the forwardly disposed spring biased stops periodically to lessen the effective length of the flyweight gyratory work arms and thereby relax the flyweight gyratory work arms at the time the reverselyoperated thrust weight arms are making their effective thrust stroke rearward movements to cause the direction movement of the mechanism, said pulley lever-like device permitting a shortening of its extensible cable and the releasing of the gyratory power work arms and flyweights for maximum power effect with returning of the thrust-producing weights preparatory to their forward superimposed positions for further rearward thrust strokes, whereby power will be supplied to cause directional movement of the mechanism and a vehicle attached thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 86 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechanism as defined in claim 1 and further power arm stops carried by the base plate structure and opposing respectively the respective above-mentioned flyweight power arm stops and lying upon the respective opposite sides of the power arms to limit the angular shifting of the flyweight arms at time of relaxation of the pulley lever-like device beyond the full extension of the flyweight arms under centrifugal action and over the diameter line through the drive shaft and the flyweight arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 69 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechanism as defined in claim 2 and said power arm stops being carried upon the base plate structure for lateral adjustment thereover, adjustable screws for limiting the lateral adjustment of the opposing power arm stops toward the respective opposite faces of the flyweight power arms and biasing means actionable upon the opposing power arm stops to hold them against their adjustable limiting screws.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 203 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechanism in claim 2 and said pulley lever-like device for relaxing the effectiveness of the flyweights comprising a pulley lever means for pivotably carrying said pulley for rotation radially offset from the axis of the power shaft upon the upper end thereof including an offset arm pivotally connected upon the drive shaft for angular adjustment thereabout free of rotation of the power shaft and an offset axial pin support extending upwardly from the outer end of the arm for rotatably connecting the pulley lever thereto, means for staying the offset arm against rotation about the drive shaft and the base plate, said extensible cable anchored intermediate its length to the pulley lever and its outer ends respectively connected to the respective gyratory flyweight work arms tending to urge the flyweight arms toward the first-mentioned flyweight arm stops, the pulley lever being rotatable with its extensible cable about the offset pin support, said extensible cable being relaxed as the base plate and work arms and its pulley lever are turned from its forward position through each rotation thereof and passing through a positon adjacent to the drive shaft axis and radially inwardly of the pulley lever pin support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 125 words
A centrifugal propulsion drive and steerable mechansim as defined in claim 4 and said means for staying the offset arm including a casing part surrounding the operable parts and adapted to be anchored to a vehicle, said casing part being open at its upper end and a steerable control member extending diametrically across the upper end of the casing and adapted to be turned around thereover, said arm pin support for the pulley-lever-like device extending upwardly through the steerable control member to effect adjUstable movement of the pulley-lever-like device about the center of the drive shaft, said control member being concentrically arranged upon the mechanism casing and affixable thereto at any position thereabout to change the direction of movement of the mechanism and the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 119 words
A centrifugal drive and steerable mechanism as defined in claim 2, said pulley lever-like device for relaxing the effectiveness of the gyratory flyweight power arms including an open top casing part surrounding the operable parts and adapted to be connected to a vehicle, a steerable control member pivotably connected to the upper end of the power drive shaft and turnable over the open end of the casing part, a pulley rotatably carried on the control member free of the power shaft and laterally offset therefrom, said pulley lever-like device and its extensible cable being angularly adjustable about the power shaft by the steerable control member to change the direction of movement of the mechanism and the vehicle attached thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3750484A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-08-04 1979-02-03 1979-08-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-08-04 1983-02-03 1983-08-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-08-04 1987-02-03 1987-08-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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